Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman has said the return of "moderate Islam" is key to his plans
to modernise the Gulf kingdom.
He told reporters that 70% of the
Saudi population was under 30 and that they wanted a "life in which our
religion translates to tolerance".
The prince vowed to "eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon".
He made the comments after announcing the investment of $500bn (£381bn) in a new city and business zone.
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| Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the comments at an economic conference in Riyadh - AFP |
Dubbed
NEOM, it will be situated on 26,500 sq km (10,230 sq miles) of Saudi
Arabia's north-western Red Sea coast, near Egypt and Jordan.
Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are strictly enforced in the kingdom.
Last
year, Prince Mohammed unveiled a wide-ranging plan to bring social and
economic change to the oil-dependent kingdom known as Vision 2030.
As
part of those reforms, the 32-year-old has proposed the partial
privatisation of the state oil company, Saudi Aramco, and the creation
of the world's largest sovereign wealth fund.
 |
| The prince made the comments about Islam at an economic conference in Riyadh - REUTERS |
And in September his father, King Salman, announced that a ban on
women drivers would end next year, despite long-standing opposition from
religious conservatives.
The government also wants to invest in
the entertainment sector. Concerts are once again being held and cinemas
are expected to return soon.
Prince Mohammed defended the reforms at an economic conference in Riyadh on Tuesday that drew foreign investors and dignitaries.
"We
are returning to what we were before - a country of moderate Islam that
is open to all religions, traditions and people around the globe," he
said.
"We want to live a normal life. A life in which our religion translates to tolerance, to our traditions of kindness," he added.
Read complete story and other news at BBC News website
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